Voting Rights for Ohioans with Disabilities

Individuals with disabilities have the right to vote. This page can assist individuals who may need additional visual supports to help understand their right and the steps to vote.

Milestones is proud to have provided consultation services to both All Voting is Local Ohio as well as the ACLU of Ohio in creating the helpful tools and videos on this page to support adults with disabilities in the voting process.  

If your agency is interested in learning more about how to better support the autism community,  contact Milestones to learn more about our professional consultation services.

If I have a disability, can I vote?

Yes, you can vote!
If you're at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen, you have the right to vote.

• If you have a guardian, you have the right to vote.
• If you cannot read or write, you have the right to vote.
• If you cannot leave a hospital, nursing home, or your house, you have the right to vote.

The only time you may not be able to vote is if a judge in probate court decided that you do not have  the "capacity" to vote. "Capacity" refers to the ability to understand voting information.

Can I vote if I have a disability and have been arrested or convicted of a crime?

• If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor, you have the right to vote.
• If you have been arrested for a felony but not convicted, you have the right to vote.
• If you are on parole or probation for a felony that did not involve jail time, you have the right to vote.

How do I sign up or "register" to vote?

Are there voting tools for people who are visually impaired or low-mobility?

Voting at home can be a convenient and sometimes necessary option for voters who wish to skip the long lines on Election Day. Unfortunately, blind, low-vision and low-mobility voters are too often unable to cast independent ballots using existing inaccessible systems. That’s why disability advocates challenged Ohio’s vote-by-mail system in federal court. They prevailed and the Ohio Secretary of State’s office has now created an accessible remote ballot marking system for these voters.
Ohio’s remote ballot marking system allows voters to request a ballot be securely emailed to them by the Board of Elections. The digital version of the ballot allows the voter to use screen readers and other assistive technology on their computer to cast an independent ballot. Once completed, the voter then prints and returns the ballot to election officials.

Learn more about how the remote ballot marking system works by watching this video:

For help or more information:

Call the Ohio Secretary of State's office at 877.SOS.OHIO (877.767.6446) or go to www.voteohio.gov

If you feel your right to vote has been denied, contact the ACLU of Ohio at 614.586.1959 or contact@acluohio.org

If you feel that you have been discriminated against while trying to vote because of your disability, contact Disability Rights Ohio at 614.728.2553 or 800.858.3542 (TTY). Or go to www.disabilityrightsohio.org for email options.

Additional Resources

ACLU Ohio -- Voting Rights for Ohioans with Disabilities
Disability Rights Ohio
All Voting is Local
Vote411.org/Ohio
All Voting is Local -- Your Vote Matters Ohio PSA (audio description version)
PRINTABLE: Voting Rights for Individuals with Disabilities: Visual Guide
PRINTABLE: Voting Rights for Individuals with Disabilities card
PRINTABLE: Who has the Right to Vote in Ohio?
PRINTABLE: What Kind of Help Can I Get When I Go to Vote at the Polls?
PRINTABLE: Why is it Important to Vote?